By HUNTER O. LYLE
DUKE CENTER, PA – In a season focused on steady growth, the young Smethport volleyball team managed to find some manifestation as they hung with Otto-Eldred for four sets, picking off one before inevitably falling to the Lady Terrors.
The tale of O-E and the Lady Hubbers have been one of very different seasons. While O-E has suffered just three losses throughout their campaign, battling among the North Tier League’s upper echelon, Smethport has paid no mind to the win column, instead focusing on building something with their budding core.
“I think we’re playing with a lot more chemistry (than at the start of the season) and they’re much more offensively minded. I think before and in past years, we were just playing passively and trying to get the ball over. Now, going forward, we’re trying to earn our points rather than just rely on teams making mistakes,” said Smethport head coach Mark Miller. “This year, I really emphasized watching film so the team can see what kind of things are earning us points, earning other teams points and that sort of opened their eyes.”
The Lady Hubbers entered a doubled-down hostile territory on Thursday night, as O-E had their eyes on a win during a night in which they celebrated their two veteran leaders. Both four year players, Lexi Prince and Leah Burrows have donned the Blue and Gold as they rose to the top brass. Although they were unfortunately both sidelined with season-long injuries, that didn’t stop them from contributing in any way possible.
“They’re great. They are probably the best cheerleaders we have on the sideline,” said Otto-Eldred head coach Amber App. “They help me see things and point things out.”
With their seniors and fans behind them, the Lady Terrors came out with a spree. Leading with thunderous spikes from their sky-high hitter Rayel Hakes, O-E burst out to a 10-0 lead. However, the Lady Hubbers would find a run of their own, led by their work at the service line. With Addison Witmer taking the serve, she recorded three consecutive aces, hitting multiple shallow shots that skimmed the top of the net before dropping to the floor. Alongside her work, sheer hustle and energy carried Smethport to a 8-0 run that eventually snowballed into a set-tying 11-1 surge.
After recollecting themselves with a timeout, the Lady Terrors snapped out of their funk and began getting to work. Rattling off a few high velocity slams as well as a handful of their own aces, O-E closed out the first set on a 12-3 run, winning 25-15.
Getting into a rhythm, O-E took full control of the second set. Although the Lady Hubbers hung close by for the majority of the early goings, the Lady Terrors once again sprung to action mid-way through, pulling out a 9-1 stretch that gave them a 25-12 win and 2-0 advantage on the night.
Sitting just one win away from a sweep, the Lady Terrors got comfortable, a sense that would ultimately backfire.
Rallying both the ball and points back and forth, O-E built and held a lead to kick off the do-or-die third, however, Smethport worked to stay within striking distance. Frantically spreading the floor and finding a way to return even the hardest hits sent over the net, the Lady Hubbers never fell behind by more than two and with the help of a few more aces, managed to tie the scoreboard at 14-14.
Meanwhile, O-E struggled with miscommunications and poor rotations and, unlike the first two sets, couldn’t find a way to suddenly find separation on the scoreboard. Tied again at 17-17 with another ace from Jenna Goodman, the game became a tooth-and-nail sprint to the finish line. Hard work eventually paid off as the Lady Hubbers took their first lead of the third since 3-0 at 24-23. Holding the momentum which was built off pure energy, they emerged victorious with a 27-25 win.
“Everybody was just playing their role and everybody was working together. I used all 18 of my subs during that third set. I couldn’t get anybody else in if I wanted to,” said Miller. “All the way from a freshman coming off the bench to a secondary setter to defensive specialist, pinch serving, everybody just did their job and everybody helped each other out.”
Finding their evening extended, the Lady Terrors woke up for good. From then on, they dominated the Terror Dome, taking an 8-3 lead created from a combination of vicious spikes, perfectly placed aces and overwhelming relentlessness. After churning out 27 points, Smethport barely broke double-digits in the fourth and final, falling to the Lady Terrors 25-11.
“I really didn’t have to say much (after losing the third set.) They knew,” said App. “I just told them, ‘they don’t get above ten.’ I feel like (the loss) forced them to play better. It’s not the best that we’ve ever played, but better.”
Alyssa Ayers ended with five kills, two aces and 11 digs for the Lady Hubbers while Addison Wimer had three aces, three kills and five blocks. Taylor Edgar rounded out the night with 10 digs and three aces.
Despite the loss, Miller saw what he had hoped for all season: progression. Although they were unable to tally a win, they were able to see the fruits of their labor, a silver lining in which to build off of.
“We can hang with the best of them when we’re at our best. Sometimes we have a tendency to get down against teams that maybe aren’t at the caliber we think but we can really hang with the best of them, with the Ottos and the Port (Alleganys,)” said Miller. “We just have to treat every single team like they’re the best in the world and we’ll be fine.”
